Lake Area Runners 4 for the Fourth

Lake Area Runners presents 4 for the Fourth!

Lake Area Runner's hottest race of the year!! Come help us celebrate our nation's independence by running 4 miles for the 4th of July! This course is flat and fast, out and back race along the scenic Lakeshore Drive.

This event is open to both walkers and runners!

When we say it is our hottest race, we mean it literally. Please hydrate well prior to event. 

Date and time: Saturday, July 4, 2026 at 7:00 am

Location: Police Jury Parking Lot at the corner of Lakeshore Drive and Gill Street, 1110 Pithon Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601

***This is the final race of the Triple Crown Series! If you complete the Leprechaun 3 Miler, Contraband 5 Miler, and LAR's 4 for the Fourth you will receive a special prize! Prizes will be available for pickup after the 4 Miler. The overall male and female winners will receive free race entries for all of our 2027 races!

 (This will be calculated using your times from all 3 races. You will be notified of your winning once we have finalized everything and determined the champs.)

Registration Fees:

$35 = Thursday, January 20, 2026 thru Monday, June 15, 2026

$40 = Tuesday, June 16, 2026 thru Thursday, July 2, 2026 

$45 = Friday, July 3, 2026 and Saturday, July 4, 2026 (online registration only)

Age based pricing of registration fees: 
Registrants 5 - 9 years old = $5 registration fee (shirt not included). Shirts may be purchased $20.
Registrants 65 years and older = free registration (shirt not included). Shirts may be purchased $20.
If you would like a shirt, purchase a shirt as an "Add-on" before checkout. 

Packet Pickup:

Friday, July 3rd

      TBD

Saturday, July 4th
      Where: parking lot of CCPJ, 1110 Pithon Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601

      Time: 6:00AM - 6:30AM

       *Look for the blue Lake Area Runners tent in the parking lot.

Important note = Registered participants need photo identification. Proxy pickup is allowed for immediate family members, husband/wife/sibling, with identification.

Race Day Schedule:

6:00AM- Packet pickup and race day registration opens (online registration only)
6:30AM- Packet pickup and race day registration closes
6:45AM- Pre race meeting
7:00AM- Race begins
7:45AM- Post race food, beverages, music begins
9:00AM- Approximate time for awards

Awards: 

Overall: Top male and Top female will be awarded fireworks

Age Group: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place fireworks awards will be awarded in 10 year age groups for males and females as follows: 

0-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+

T-Shirts:
Short sleeved performance shirts are provided to registered participants (except your ages 5-9 years & 65+ years or older participant). Shirts are guaranteed to those participants who registered prior to Saturday, June 13th. 

Shirts may be purchased without registration for $18. Click "Store" to purchase an additional shirt.

LAR's registration refund and cancellation policy:
When you register for this event, you are making a non-refundable/ non-transferable decision. 
There are absolutely NO refunds, deferrals, or bib exchanges.
Lake Area Runners does not issue refunds if the event is cancelled due to circumstances out of our control.This policy stays in effect in natural disaster, pandemic, whether you experience illness/injury/unexpected travel/emergency or other.

We work incredibly hard to put on our races and we personally understand the training and hard work runners undergo, so the last thing we want to do is cancel a race. 
 
Cancellation:
If we foresee dangerous conditions that warrant cancellations, we will update you via email and/or post onto @LakeAreaRunners and @LakeAreaRunnersForum sites on Facebook.

Weather:

If there is lightning in the area, the race may be delayed, route altered/shortened, or cancelled. If fog present, the visibility will determine if delayed start or altered/shortened route is necessary. The Marshall’s officers & Lake Area Runner’s board will make the determination. 

Parking:

Parking is available in the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury (CPPJ) parking lot (1110 Pithon Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601) and at the Lake Charles Event Center (LCEC) along Lakeshore Drive. 

Do not park on Gill Street between Lakeshore Drive and Pithon Street. Do not park on Lakeshore Drive.

Volunteers:

• Race packet pickup on Friday, July 3rd = 12:30PM - 5:00PM

• Race packet pickup on Saturday, July 4th = 6:000AM - 6:300AM

• Race site setup & cleanup on Saturday, July 4th = 6:00AM - 10:00AM

• Hydration Stations and cheer spots on Saturday, July 4th - 6:30AM-10:00AM

• Post race food and beverage servers Saturday, July 4th - 7:00AM-10:00AM

• Volunteers should register on runsignup.com by Monday, June 29th. If you have a group interested in volunteering, please email lakearearunners@gmail.com attn: volunteer 4miler

Lake Area Runners Events:
Mardi Gras Madness 5K is Sunday, February 15, 2026
LAR Leprechaun 3 miler is Saturday, March 14, 2026 
Contraband 5 miler is Saturday, May 2, 2026
4 miler on the 4th is Saturday, July 4, 2026
Swamp Stomp Half Marathon & 1 mile kids run is Saturday, December 12, 2026